Device for securing at least one optical fibre to an optical apparatus

Abstract

A device ( 1 ) for securing at least one optical fibre ( 2; 3; 4; 5 ) to an optical apparatus ( 6 ) is proposed, comprising at least one photo-element ( 20; 21; 22; 23 ) mounted on a supporting element ( 24 ) and at least one optical fibre ( 2; 3; 4; 5 ) which can be connected to the photo-element ( 20; 21; 22; 23 ); the securing device ( 1 ) comprises at least one transparent part, such that a region of the coupling between the fibre and the photo-element is visible. A securing device ( 1 ) is also proposed, comprising a slide ( 7 ) provided with at least one slot ( 8 ), which assumes a first and a second position; in the first position, the slot ( 8 ) is coaxial with a hole ( 25 ) in the supporting element ( 24 ) and freely houses the optical fibre ( 2; 3; 4; 5 ), while in the second position the slot ( 8 ) is out of alignment with the hole ( 25 ) and exerts on the optical fibre ( 2; 3; 4; 5 ) a force which keeps it secured in the hole ( 25 ). (FIG. 1 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A securing device for releasably connecting at least one optical fiber to an optical apparatus where said optical apparatus comprises at least one photo-element mounted on a supporting element, said device including means for releasably connecting said at least one optical fiber in optical alignment with said at least one photo-element, said at least one optical fiber being brought into direct contact with said at least one photo-element, wherein at least a part of said device is made from a transparent material making a region of optical alignment in contact coupling between the at least one optical fiber and the at least one photo-element externally visible. 
     
     
       2. Securing device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device comprises a rover made from a transparent material. 
     
     
       3. Securing device according to  claim 1 , wherein said supporting element is made from transparent material. 
     
     
       4. Securing device according to  claim 1 , wherein said transparent material is selected from the group comprising glass, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-styrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyphenylene oxide, polyurethane, polysulphone, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, and polyphenylene sulphide. 
     
     
       5. A securing device for connecting at least one optical fiber to an optical apparatus, said optical apparatus comprising at least one photos-element, said at least one optical fiber connectable to said at least one photo-element, and at least one supporting element provided with at least one guide hole, having an axis, for said at least one optical fiber, wherein said device comprises a single-piece slide provided with at least one fixed-size slot having a semi-circular portion having an axis, wherein said axis passes through the center of said semi-circular portion of said slot, said slide moveable between a first and a second predetermined position, said second position being defined by stops, said axis of said semi-circular portion of said slot, in said first position of said slide, being coaxial with said axis of said hole of said supporting element and said semi-circular portion freely housing said at least one optical fiber, and said axis of said semi-circular portion of said slot, in said second position of said slide, being out of alignment with said axis of said hole such that said semi-circular portion of said slot exerts, in said second position of said slide, on said at least one optical fiber a force which keeps the at least one optical fiber secured in said hole. 
     
     
       6. Securing device according to  claim 5 , wherein said slide is provided with at least two slots. 
     
     
       7. Securing device according to  claim 6 , wherein said optical apparatus is provided with at least two optical fibers. 
     
     
       8. Securing device according to  claim 5 , wherein said device comprises a cover provided with at least one hole for passage of said optical fiber, said cover being provided with an enclosure supporting said slide for slidable movement, and housing an elastic means in engagement with said slide to keep said slide in said second position. 
     
     
       9. Securing device according to  claim 5 , wherein said semi-circular portion of said slot has a radius greater than a radius of said at least one optical fiber. 
     
     
       10. Securing device according to  claim 9 , wherein said semi-circular portion of said slot has a projecting arm. 
     
     
       11. Securing device according to  claim 9 , wherein said slot is substantially C-shaped. 
     
     
       12. Securing device according to  claim 10 , wherein said semi-circular portion has a notch capable of imparting elasticity to said arm. 
     
     
       13. Securing device according to  claim 8 , wherein said slide is provided with a pin which is used for centering said elastic means. 
     
     
       14. Securing device according to  claim 8 , wherein said cover is made from transparent material. 
     
     
       15. Securing device according to  claim 5 , wherein said supporting element is made from transparent material. 
     
     
       16. Securing device according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one photo-element is mounted on said supporting element. 
     
     
       17. A securing device for connecting at least one optical fiber to an optical apparat, said optical apparatus comprising at least one photo-element, said at least one optical fiber connectable to said at least one photo-element, and at least one supporting element provided with at least one guide hole, having an axis, for said at least one optical fiber, wherein said device comprises 
       a slide provided with at least one slot having a semi-circular portion having an axis, said slide moveable between a first and a second predetermined position, said second position being defined by stops, said axis of said semi-circular portion of said slot, in said first position of said slide, being coaxial with said axis of said hole of said supporting element and freely housing said at least one optical fiber, and said axis of said semi-circular portion of said slot, in said second position of said slide, being out of alignment with said axis of said hole and exerting on said at least one optical fiber a force which keeps said at least one optical fiber secured in said hole, wherein said slide is made from transparent material making a region of optical alignment in coupling between said at least one optical fiber and said at least one photo-element externally visible.  
     
     
       18. Securing device according to  claim 17 , wherein said transparent material is selected from the group comprising glass, polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-styrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyphenylene oxide, polyurethane, polysulphone, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, and polyphenylene sulphide. 
     
     
       19. Device for releasably connecting at least one optical fiber to an optical apparatus said optical apparatus comprising at least one photo-element mounted on a transparent supporting element, said device including means for releasably connecting said at least one optical fiber to said at least one photo-element, said at least one optical fiber being brought into direct contact with said at least one photo-element, wherein said device includes a cover made of a transparent material making a region of contact coupling between the at least one optical fiber and the photo-element externally visible. 
     
     
       20. Optical equipment comprising: 
       an optical apparatus comprising at least one photo-element, at least one optical fiber, and  
       a device for releasably connecting said at least one optical fiber in optical alignment with a respective one of said at least one photo-element, said at least one optical fiber being brought into direct contact with said at least one photo-element,  
       wherein at least a part of said releasably connecting device is made form a transparent material in order to make a region of optical alignment in contact coupling between the at least one optical fiber and the at least one photo-element externally visible.  
     
     
       21. Optical equipment according to  claim 20 , wherein said parent material is selected from the group comprising glass, polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile-styrene (SAN), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyurethane (PUR), polysulphone (PSU), polyamide (PA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyphenylene sulphide (PPS). 
     
     
       22. Optical equipment according to  claim 20 , wherein said optical apparatus comprises a supporting element for said at least one photo-element, said supporting element being made from a transparent material. 
     
     
       23. Optical equipment comprising: 
       at least one optical fiber,  
       an optical apparatus comprising at least one photo-element, and a supporting element provided with at least one guide hole, having an axis, for a respective one of said at least one optical fiber, and  
       a device for connecting said at least one optical fiber  10  a respective one of said at least one photo-element,  
       wherein said connecting device comprises a single-piece slide provided with at least one fixed-size slot having a semi-circular portion having an axis, said slide being movable between a first and a second predetermine position, said second predetermined position being defined by stops, said axis of said semi-circular portion of said at least one slot, in said first position of said slide, being coaxial with said axis of said at least one hole of said supporting element and freely housing said at least one optical fiber, and said axis of said semi-circular portion of said at least one slot, in said second position of said slide, being out of alignment with said axis of said at least one hole and exerting on said at least one optical fiber a force which keeps said at least one optical fiber secured in said at least one hole, said slide being made of a transparent material making a region of optical alignment in coupling between said at least one optical fiber and said at least one photo-element externally visible.  
     
     
       24. Optical equipment according to  claim 23 , wherein said connecting device further comprises a cover, said cover is provided with at least one hole for passage of said at least one optical fiber and with an enclosure, said enclosure supporting said slide for slidable movement and housing elastic means to maintain said slide in said second position. 
     
     
       25. Optical equipment according to  claim 24 , wherein said cover is made from a transparent material. 
     
     
       26. Optical equipment comprising 
       at least one optical fiber,  
       an optical apparatus co at least one photo-clement, and a supporting element provided with at least one guide hole, having an axis, for a respective one of said at least one optical fiber, and  
       a device for connecting said at least one optical fiber to a respective one of said at least one photo-element,  
       wherein said connecting device comprises a slide provided with at least one slot having a semi-circular portion having an axis, said slide being movable between a first and a second predetermined position, said second predetermined position being defined by stops, said axis of said semi-circular portion of said at least one slot, in said first position of said slide, being coaxial with said axis of said at least one hole of said supporting element and freely housing said at least one optical fiber, and said axis of said semi-circuular portion of said at least one slot, in said second position of said slide, being out of alignment with said axis of said at least one hole and exerting on said at least one optical fiber a force which keeps said at least one optical fiber secured in said at least one hole, wherein said slide is made from transparent material.